At the Professional Networking Event on Oct. 8, IUP Ambassadors helped to further the understanding of networking through a presentation and short video showings.
Networking provides students the opportunity to connect with peers, potential employers and members of the IUP community that could help to further academic and professional careers. It is an effective way to develop relationships and create new contacts.
“The IUP Ambassadors is a student run organization on campus. Our entire goal is to get students to connect with alumni,” said IUP Ambassador Keagan Watson (junior, cyber security), “To do that, we host a ton of events, similar to this networking event today – trying to get our students to connect with people in their fields so they have opportunities going out of school.”
The main goal of the event was to prepare some of the students to attend the Young Alumni Achievement (YAA) event. At the YAA event, alumni from five colleges who are succeeding in their work fields receive nominations for the Young Alumni Achievement award.
At the YAA even, students can engage with alumni who are succeeding in their work. This can be very helpful and motivating, especially if they share a major with said alumni.
The presentation was given by Anna Early, Graduate Assistant for the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC).
“I was asked to come here and talk about networking and how to best present yourself to get those opportunities in advance of the alumni event,” said Early, “That’s why we came here and gave you the tips and tricks – so that you were prepared to present yourself in a positive light.”
The presentation featured insights on the dos and don’ts of networking, reviewing tips for success including using your connections, the “elevator speech”, the appropriate way to dress and more.
Networking is a very important skill to have to encourage and ensure success in any work field, a concept that was firmly discussed by the IUP ambassadors. They highlighted the essential aspects and foundations of networking, helping students grasp the basics of networking in a professional setting.
Students learned that networking is a great way to get access to the hidden job market, which consists of jobs that are not publicly posted and readily accessible. By networking, making connections and staying in touch, students have a better chance of learning about hidden job opportunities.
Ira Sickles (sophomore, computer science) said, “This event is important because networking is a good skill to have that allows you to reach out to other people that you might not have known before.”
“There are good events that you can go to where you’ll meet new people that might pertain to your future jobs,” Sickles said.
The IUP Ambassadors commonly host events that are networking centered, promoting networking among students and IUP community members in an effort to promote students’ confidence and experience in forming new connections.